Unified Protocol: Community Connections

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI · Sep 8, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Unified Protocol: Community Connections trial is studying a special type of therapy designed to help children and teenagers aged 7 to 17 who are experiencing emotional challenges like anxiety or depression. This therapy, known as the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, is aimed at both the youth and their parents. The goal is to see how effective this therapy is in improving emotional well-being through assessments and questionnaires.

To participate, families need to live in Miami-Dade County and be able to communicate in English or Spanish. They should also have a child who is facing emotional difficulties, as determined by a structured interview or specific questionnaires. Importantly, at least one parent or caregiver must be willing to attend all therapy sessions with the child. Participants can expect a combination of in-person and virtual sessions, as well as support throughout the process. This trial is currently recruiting participants, so it's a great opportunity for families looking for help with emotional issues.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Children between the ages of 7-17.
• • Youth currently resides in Miami-Dade County.
• • Children and their parents must be able to speak and understand English and/or Spanish sufficiently well to complete study procedures (e.g., provide their informed consent/assent, complete assessment measures and/or program materials).
• • At least one parent or caregiver with whom the child is living with that can accompany the child and participate in all visits (assessment and treatment).
• • Positive endorsement of elevated emotional concerns in one of a limited range of emotional disorder domains (i.e., anxiety, depression, trauma, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms, etc.) during full DIAMOND-Kid semi-structured interview, and/or elevated anxiety or depression symptoms (T-Score \> or = 65 for youth 8-17 years old; Raw score \> or = 12 for children under 8 years old) on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Short Form (RCADS-SF; Child or Parent Report).
• • Youth with other types of comorbid conditions (e.g., tic/Tourette's disorder, eating disorders, or disruptive behavior disorders) will not be excluded, providing a clinical area of concern is regarding one of the emotional disorder domains specified and treatment within this protocol is deemed most appropriate.
• • Youth and parent participation in at least one in-person session if the treatment is predominantly delivered virtually.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Prior receipt of at least 8 sessions of the UP-C/A program at the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment Program (CAMAT).
• • Psychiatric hospitalization in the previous 6 months (i.e., due to Baker Act, psychotic symptoms, significant suicidal ideation, danger to self or others, etc.).
• • Another significant problem area that takes priority for services (e.g., eating disorder, substance-use disorder, primary externalizing concerns, psychotic symptoms, etc.), as identified by family report or via DIAMOND-Kid interview.
• • Inability for family to wait for the next group treatment cohort to start, family declining therapist assignment following intake, and/or family no-showing to 3 or more scheduled sessions at CAMAT (inclusive of intake assessment).